Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-04-22
HIS OWN PHYSICIAN.

these Mr.. Herbert Barrons was tor
mented. He not only suffered excruciat-
ing physical pain, but his soul was
agonized 10y the dread of the unbalancing
of his mind
When young man he had inherited a
moderate business, unincumbercd. His
ambition had been to make the house of
which he was the head one Of the promi-
nent commercial enterprises of the city.
Devotion to business had caused his I'M
fortunate physical condition. and now,
when the firm of Barrons & Co. was
quoted us one of the Al houses of the
street. and IIerbcrt's ambition had been
seemingly grau.ied. only splitting head
ache. insomnia and probable insanity
seemed his reward.
A friend advised him to take opium,
but he refused to use the seductive
drug.
Better far the visions of the lunatic
than the dreams of the opium eater.
From lunacy there is but one awakening
to sanity. The opium eater wakes daily
to the wretched lot, haggard and terror
stricken: flees again to the unrealities of
the drug.
So he would not follow his friend adj
vice. They who knew him intimately
trembled in helplessness. and for him
there seemed no hope.
One day physician, bosom friend.
said:
Herbert have learned of something
that think will cure you. Will YOU try
it,
GLADLY, but mind, not opium" re-
piled the sufferer.
"Certainlv not; something else. will
bring you some of the preparation this
evening"
That night DR.. Noble called with the
remedy.
"Powders!' exclaimed the patient as
he undid one of the tiny packages.
PROVIDERS. have taken enough of such
things to kill a rhinoceros.
Give these a trial, said the physician.
departing, land l think you will find
them eflicacious. "
Herbert took one according to direc-
tions. and again one, and third one, and
then came relief.
Never before since. vulturelike, it
seized upon his brain had the grim, OBJ
durate pain relaxed its hold: but now.
loosened their grip. And did he drink of
the waters of Lethe, or was it only
anguished nature availing itself of the
first moderation in the torture to sink into
oblivious sleep-a dead. featureless sleep?
When he awoke he was refreshed, but
the pain was again tearing his brain and
shrieking through his soul. Another pow
der according to directions, and again
one, and then relief
Rushing in gratitude to the physician S
office, Herbert overwhelmed his bene-
factor with thanks and the offer of huge
fee. The latter the physician waived
with the remark:
The act was one of friendship not by
any means a professional one. | thrust
the medicine upon you. You never asked
me to prescribe for you
How stupid l was not to do so is evil
denced by your successful treatment,
Herbert exclaimed glad of the opportu-
nifty to denounce his blindness. But you
must patent this preparation. he contin-
ued 1T will make your fortune. Every
overworked man and woman in the world
will be your debtor"
"Yes, | think l will patent it, the
physician replied.
Herbert became well and strong. His
headaches and insomnia were kept at bay
by an occasional powder and the years
went by smoothly. His business in
creased. The correspondence of the
house widened and there was no part of
the world to which its credit did not ex-
tend.
Then Herbert thought of marrying.
He had met in his travels a beautiful
child. She was, perhaps, Is when he
first knew her. Two years interviewed,
and then he again met her. Soon after
that meeting the headaches had come
upon him and he forgot her. But
when he began to grow better
and stronger under the influence
of the powders his memory would
revert to the sprightly and interesting
girl. He was constantly recalling her
speeches, her poses, and his thoughts
were ever busy with her. He dreamed
of her, and in his visions she was queen,
regal and beautiful, yet gentle. Her
black hair and beaming sparkling, black
eyes were the light and the shade to a
face rarely equaled for vivacity, strength
and tenderness.
AS he saw her in his dreams, so was
she present before him in his waking
hours. Finally, with the reverence of "a
worshiper approaching a shrine, he sought
her and told the story of his thoughts.
She had reached the years of womanhood
and was a noted society belle 1t had
been her privilege to decline the heart
and hand of many men, handsome, edu-
Gated, rich and, it may be, good.
When Herbert stood before her with
bowed head and related how his thoughts
constantly dwelt upon her, and made no
further declaration of his love, her heart
was touched. 1t softened, for she was
something of "A coquette. Her love dom
mated her, and when he came again,
asking for hand and heart, she gave
them both.
Herbert was happy beyond any shadow
OF uneasiness, far removed from doubt,
secure in his vigorous health, sustained
in his business success and rich beyond
the wealth Of the world in the possession
of true woman's love. Their wedding
was a society event. They departed to
Europe on their wedding tour.